Laremy Tunsil will miss second-straight game for Ole Miss

Laremy Tunsil will continue to not play for No. 17 Ole Miss, missing his second-straight game on Saturday against Fresno State.

Mississippi offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil, right, talks with quarterback Chad Kelly (10) on the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015. Mississippi won 76-3. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)(Photo: Thomas Graning, AP)

Shortly before kickoff the school released a statement on the matter, indicating it has been preparing as if Tunsil, a preseason All-American left tackle, would not be available.

"That status will continue until the matter is resolved," the statement read. "The team of our university administration, athletic compliance, and outside counsel are working daily on this university matter. Although the process is ongoing, the decision to withhold Laremy is not related to any current items involving our football staff, and we have been assured everyone is aggressively seeking a resolution. We continue to support Laremy in every way. In early July, the university offered (Laremy accepted) separate legal counsel with experience in similar matters, and the university continues to pay for Laremy's counsel, as permitted by NCAA rules."

Tunsil, a junior, has started for Ole Miss since early his freshman season, and is considered one of the team's more important players and a likely early NFL Draft pick when he declares.

Ole Miss is expected to start Fahn Cooper at left tackle. Cooper is the team's usual right tackle, and will be replaced there by redshirt freshman Sean Rawlings, who made his first career start last week against UT-Martin.